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A Glide for the Median Nerve Glide

By , PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS·

Quick answer

A median nerve glide is an exercise that gently moves the median nerve through the arm in a few positions. Stand with your symptomatic arm out to the side, palm down and wrist bent up, elbow straight. Raise the arm until you feel slight tingling. That is the tension position.

From there, do three moves ten times each: shrug your shoulder up and down, bend your wrist back and forth, and tilt your neck away and back. Aim to do it at least three to four times a week.

A Glide for the Median Nerve Glide
Exercise A Glide for the Median Nerve
Frequency&Duration 10 Repetitions in Each of the 3 Positions, At least 3-4x/week
This exercise is designed to isolate and mobilize the median nerve in several positions. Begin by assuming a standing position with your arms to your side. From there you will use the arm that you are experiencing symptoms bring it into a position of tension. You will do this by standing with your wrist bent upwards toward the ceiling (with your palm down) and while keeping your elbows straight, slowly bring our arms up until you feel slight numbness or tingling. This is the Tension position. Follow the table below for the three nerve mobilizing positions.
Median nerve glide starting position: standing with the arm at the side and the wrist bent back

Starting Position

Standing with Wrist Extended and pointing out to the side
Median nerve glide tension position: straight arm raised out to the side with the wrist bent back

Tension Position

Keeping your Wrist bent upward and elbows straight, move your arms out until you feel slight numbness or tingling in your hands
Median nerve glide: shrugging the shoulder up and down while the arm stays out with the wrist bent back

Position 1 : Shoulder Shrug and Depression

From the Tension Position, Shrug your shoulder upwards and downwards. You will feel more tingling when you bring your shoulder downwards. Repeat this motion 10x
Median nerve glide: bending the wrist back and forth with the arm held out to the side

Position 2: Wrist Bending

From the Tension Position, Bend your wrists back and forth. You will feel more tingling with your wrists all the way upward. Repeat this mobilization 10x
Median nerve glide: tilting the head away from the outstretched arm with the wrist still bent back

Position 3: Neck Bending

From the Tension Position (Wrists still bent up), bend your neck away from the arm and back. You will feel more numbness/tingling when you bend your neck away. Repeat this mobilization 10x

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